*edited*
So I changed the rating to T because I want more people to get to read this and yes, I will refrain from any excessive adult content so I hope you guys are cool with that :)
Hello! I am coming up with a new story again *nervous laugh* and yes, it's AU again and AsuCaga again. To be honest this is not the story I planned upon finishing A Kiss A Day Keeps Your Right to Play. The idea comes randomly while I was reading some SasuSaku stories (yes, I ship them!) and I just want to write it. Well, I wanted to rate the story M because of the language and the content but apparently M rated stories does not appear in the main page site and I wouldn't like that. Therefore, consider yourself warned. There will be no explicit scene, though, at least not that explicit so I suppose it's still okay. I just want try writing something new; different from my usual style, kinda as to celebrate me turning 20 next year *laugh* (I just cannot believe I am turning 20 – to think that I made this account when I was 12 and I am still here) That being said, please enjoy this first chapter and yes, I have some announcement at the end so please take a look after you finish reading =)
ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED
Athrun Zala and Cagalli Yula Attha are engaged to be married to merge two rivalling companies
of ZAFT Inc. and ORB Union Corporation.
Strangers with seven years of age gap - how do they get along with each other?
Would they find something along the way or would they enter the
world of marriage as loveless as they are?
RATED for language and content.
Chapter 1 : "Say, who am I, again?"
"Hello, I'm Athrun Zala, nice to meet you, Cagalli."
"Hello, nice to meet you, too, Athrun-san."
Athrun's perfect smile falters for a while. Athrun-san? He stares at the girl in front of him, who is sipping her Java Chip Frappuccino offhandedly despite her elegant posture. Her short blonde hair is barely styled, but her choice of clothes; in this case being slim white pants that reaches her knees and loose yellow blouse that compliments her hair, speaks of her distinguished status. The only thing missing for the get-up is a designer handbag but Athrun is pretty much sure the purse she is carefully holding on her laps costs a fortune as well.
The girl is Cagalli Yula Attha – the only daughter of Uzumi Nara Attha, the founder of ORB Union Corporation – the leading estate company of the country Heliopolis. That being said, she is the sole heir of the company. Currently 21 years old, she is in her final year in getting her Business Studies degree in the country's top university Morgenroute. The original idea is to have her helping with the business after she graduates as to prepare her to inherit the company when the time comes but the plan has changed considerably a bit since last month.
She is now engaged to be married with Athrun Zala.
Which explains the meeting today, at the local chain of Starbucks Coffee in the evening of leisure Saturday. Athrun Zala, turning 28 in October, is the young CEO of ZAFT Inc., having entrusted the job by his father only two years ago. It has always been a family business and Athrun has proved himself more than capable for the job. ZAFT Inc. is based in the neighbouring country PLANTs, but has recently started to focus more in Heliopolis, having opened an office in the city to be managed solely by Athrun as the new CEO. There are talks about how it will challenge ORB Union Corp. as they are in the same field of business but the pillars from both companies, Uzumi Nara Attha from ORB and Athrun's father, Patrick Zala of ZAFT have seen it through and come with a fool-proof plan of joining their heirs in marriage.
Athrun-san? Athrun repeats in his head. You might as well call me Uncle.
He knows seven years is a big gap. His mother has expressed her worries about it; the same mother that has been constantly nagging him to find someone to settle down with. It is one of the reasons why he accepts the marriage deal on the first place, other than he knows it would do good to both companies and he has no other reasons to oppose. He is relieved to hear that the other party, namely Cagalli, has agreed as well – no matter what her reason is. Yet again, seven years is quite a gap. He was already 20 when she was 13 – it would have been a crime. Considering that, she calling him Athrun-san is quite acceptable, though Athrun has hoped she would be friendlier than that.
Or at least a bit more interested in him.
"I'm sorry to take time from your precious Saturday evening, Cagalli," says Athrun good-naturedly, trying to start a conversation.
He watches her eyes dart from watching the passing crowd from the window to looking at him. She automatically puts up a smile on her face, a saccharinely sweet smile that does not reach her beautiful ambers eyes.
"No, it's quite okay; I have nothing planned, anyway," she says as she eyes Athrun's white shirt and dark blue blazer. "Did you come straight from work, Athrun-san?"
Athrun nods, slightly sheepish. He is not really proud of it, but he has been called workaholic by everyone he knows. It is not like he likes working that much; it's just that he has nothing better to do than working – even during weekdays. Sometimes his friends manage to drag him to some random clubs and bars and only then he would see a bit of action.
"I was just reviewing some documents – prefer that, instead of a boring game of golf…"
Cagalli obliges him a complimentary chuckle but her eyes have darted again to the passing crowd as Athrun jabbers away about his day. He stops, however, when he realizes the girl is not even listening. Inwardly sighing, he picks up his cup of black coffee.
What do you talk about to someone seven years younger, anyway? They have nothing in common – Athrun has no idea what college students like her talk about nowadays; his own college life had passed for quite some time and even then he was at his hometown PLANTs, surrounded by the friends he had known since young. After he graduated, he had joined the company straight away and since then, those documents have been his life, and Cagalli has made it clear she is not interested in listening about them.
Are they going to be married like this?
"Cagalli," he calls, taking her attention once again. This time her eyes pierce directly into his own emerald ones. "Why did you accept the marriage deal?"
Cagalli, if anything, looks taken aback for a while; her pristine smile wavers briefly. But she remains calm otherwise. "Because I have no reason to decline."
"That's all?"
"Well," she sighs and appears thinking for a while. "That, and I want to help my father and ORB. It will be a while until I can work for the company – so this is what I can do at the moment."
At least her reasons are acceptable, Athrun finds himself thinking. He feels a little respect to the lady before him. She is just 21 – young enough to explore the world yet she chooses to confine herself in a marriage that is not on her own will. Not that they are to be married anytime soon, though; the plan is to wait until Cagalli has graduated from the university at least; which is next year the soonest.
"Even though it means marrying a stranger?" Athrun tests her.
Cagalli smiles at him, almost pityingly. "It could be worse."
"So she doesn't satisfy you?"
Athrun smacks his friend's head before climbing up the bar stool. "I said, she seems not satisfied with me, idiot."
"Stupid," another friend, a silver-haired one, spits as he takes the seat on Athrun's left.
Dearka Elsmand massages his sore head as he climbs up the stool on Athrun's right. He thinks it is unfair for Athrun to hit him for something so trivial such as mishearing – since the club they are currently at is not the most suitable place to talk. But they need to unwind and it is not every day that the Athrun Zala can be brought to somewhere else other than the office, his apartment suite or his family home. It is a Friday night, after all so the club is pretty crowded.
"She's not satisfied by you? As in, in sex? Whoa, it's Athrun Zala we're talking about here!" he says, signalling the bartender. "Martini."
Athrun smacks him on the head again, before turning to the bartender. "Just beer, please, thanks."
The bartender leaves with their order after Yzak chooses the same drink as Dearka. Athrun returns his attention to the tanned blonde on his right.
"I mean, in general, stupid. And how do you even know how I do on bed – it's gross."
Yzak smirks scornfully at the two. "You know he got nothing else in his mind but sex."
Dearka looks at him reproachfully. "How should I know? And if you can stop your one-night-stands from contacting me afterward to brag about you, please do. I don't even want to know the details."
"That's your own fault for giving them your numbers," replies Athrun coolly. The air inside the club is stifling despite the air conditioner so he loosens his tie and unbuttons the first two buttons on his shirt. He doesn't really understand how Yzak is still in his blazers with tie properly in its place – Dearka in contrary has lost his tie altogether with his top three buttons undone, the shirt untucked.
"Yeah, right," Dearka rolls his eyes. "Anyway, back to your fiancée – I thought she agrees with the deal?"
Athrun nods curtly. "Yeah, she has no problem at all with it."
"Then what's the problem?"
Sighing, the blue-haired man shrugs. "She's just not interested in me, I suppose. Maybe I'm too old, too boring for her."
Yzak snorts, knowing Athrun doesn't really believe that 'he is too told, too boring' but Dearka seems fairly concerned.
"How old is she again, 20?" he asks.
"21." Athrun corrects him as he nods at the bartender in thanks for their drinks.
Yzak takes a sip on his martini before musing. "That's pretty young." He has just turned 29.
"Young ones are usually good," Dearka jokes but then falls silent by Athrun's glare. It takes him some times before he dares to open his mouth again. "Have you even met up with her?"
"Only the first time; last month," replies Athrun, his brows furrowed. "I think I fucked it pretty bad – she politely refuses any meet-up after that." Coldly refuses, more like.
"Just what the hell did you do?" asks Dearka unbelievingly. Athrun sure does not share Dearka's own talent of sweet-talking but he never has problems in communicating with women before.
Athrun shrugs again, drinking up his beer before replying. "I cannot find a common ground at all. It's like she's living in an entirely different world. She wouldn't even look at me when I talk – I was that boring."
Both Dearka and Yzak share the same look – amazed. It is hard to find a woman, or a girl – anyone with double X chromosomes – that is not interested in looking at Athrun, nevertheless how mundane the conversation is. This fiancée of his sure is interesting.
"I don't understand why it matters much to you, though," Yzak gives his opinion, looking sideways at his friend. His electric blue eyes meet Athrun's curious emerald ones so he continues. "It's just an arranged marriage, after all. And she will end up yours all the same."
"You are so romantic I can't even, Mr. Yzak Joule," Dearka says sarcastically, doing his dramatic trademark of eye roll.
It has Athrun thinking, however. He has not thought about it – why he wants to know more about Cagalli on the first place. Yzak is right; no matter how they get along now, they would end up married anyway. Even if they are not speaking now, they would have to later when they are bounded for life; Cagalli should understand that at least. But then, he is not sure if he wants to have that kind of marriage, after all.
"Maybe I just want it to be more bearable," he says slowly, like more to himself. "Since both of us didn't plan for this."
"Yzak is doing pretty well with Shiho, though," Dearka responds over his martini. Yzak is also engaged to be married with a girl of his family's choice – Shiho Hahnenfuss, who works with them in the Heliopolis branch of ZAFT Inc.
Yzak shakes his head. "It's different."
"How is it so? Both of you are engaged by families, right?"
"Mine is just out of whim of two close families that want to turn the friendship into something more. Athrun's is more to the benefits of two rivalling companies. That's how they differ."
"And they are already into each other on the first place," Athrun adds with a teasing smile.
Yzak scowls. "I am not into her."
Both Athrun and Dearka chuckle at his denial. They have known him enough to see beyond his façade – the three of them have been together since grade school and all throughout middle school, high school and university. Yzak and Dearka's parents are two of prominent shareholders of ZAFT Inc. and they have been working with Athrun since they all graduated. It is only normal that they are given responsibilities to be his right hands when he is to lead the Heliopolis branch. Shiho joins them as per Yzak's family request, aside from the fact that she is very capable on the first place.
In Athrun's opinion, Yzak and Shiho are indeed lucky. They have known each other since forever thanks to the close tie between the families. Somewhere along the way, it is clear to everyone in their surrounding that they have fallen in love with each. However none of them is the most honest person around so their families' decision to marry them off with each other comes as a blessing in disguise. They have been engaged for three years and are to be married at the end of the year as Shiho turns 27. It has been the end of the bargain – both of them would like to wait until they are more stable career-wise – as if they are not already- but both sides of the families deem 27 is already too late already for a woman to be married.
"And two years gap is nothing to compare with seven fucking years…"
Yzak and Dearka look at each other. It seems that Athrun is still hung up about his young fiancée. They don't really have anything to say about her – having yet to personally meet her; they only know her as the Cagalli Yula Attha, daughter of the pioneer of the esteemed ORB Union Corporation. Sometimes the magazines do some coverage on the families in leading business and she got featured in several of them.
"Shouldn't you just fuck her?" Athrun's glare could almost kill but Dearka continues anyway. "I mean, it's something you cannot do wrong, after all. Not according to those girls, anyway."
Athrun still glowers at him. "She is not one of those girls, Dearka. I wonder if I would even find her in a club like this."
"You're talking as if you know her well," Yzak rebuts coolly.
It silences Athrun at once, knowing that Yzak is totally right. He does not really know anything about Cagalli, apart from what his mother has told him; which is really limited as well since Cagalli has also been avoiding his mother's effort to know her better. His mother excuses her for needing some time, while her father keeps apologizing for her seemingly rude, and probably rebelling, behaviour.
Athrun has waved the apologies amicably, assuring the older man that he understands; though it still gets him to think – if marrying him is that bad that she has to rebel then she should not say yes to the deal on the first place.
It seems that the alcohol has gotten into his head – he has always been relatively weak in handling his alcohol so he watches his drinking more carefully than any other men he knows – and the more he thinks about his fiancée the angrier he gets. It has just turned opposite of his intention – he had hoped by talking about the matter with his friends would ease his mind at least a little but it actually makes him to think about it more.
Should he just fuck her? After all, it is something that he couldn't do wrong…
Athrun is just about to laughingly dismiss the thought when his stool almost loses its footing. Luckily his reflect is good enough to prevent him from falling forward. He turns around to a slurry 'sorry' and his jaws almost drop here and then.
"…Cagalli?"
The girl who is latched on the man who has just curtly apologized turns around. Her flushed face slightly pales as she recognizes Athrun; whose eyes, at the moment, have fixed at the hands that are on her exposed thigh and under her tank top respectively. The man she is holding onto realizes something is going on and takes a proper look on the man they have just almost knocked down.
"Someone you know, baby?" he asks.
Athrun is already standing up, much to Yzak and Dearka's alert – there is something sinister in the glint in his eyes. They are already on their guard when Athrun reaches for the couple – one moment both of them are sure he is reaching for the man – but they are proven wrong as it is Cagalli who he pulls on.
"Hey - " the man protests. "Play it fair and square, bro – I got her first."
"I am her fiancé," Athrun glowers at him. He glances at his two friends. "I'm leaving first – take care of my drink; I'll pay you two later."
Dearka looks at him worriedly. There is no telling if Athrun is still thinking straight – if he can even drive safely. "Don't worry about that but – "
"It's okay; take care of your things," Yzak cuts Dearka off, giving him permission to leave with a nod.
Athrun replies with a nod and he strides away, dragging the bewildered Cagalli along. His teeth remains gritted as he pushes the girl into the passenger seat of his car and starts driving; keeping all the sanity left within him to make sure he would not get both of them, or anyone else as it matters, killed. Despite that, his speed and recklessness terrify Cagalli and it prompts her to say something at last.
"H-Hey, can you even drive?" she asks, stammering slightly. "You are drinking just now, right?"
"Shut up." That silences her at once
Some minutes later, they arrive at what seems to Cagalli is a luxurious condominiums. Locking his car, Athrun pulls Cagalli along again by her wrists. This time however she resorts to argue.
"I can walk on my own, you know!" she says, trying to pull her wrist away but no avail. Athrun makes no acknowledgement to her argument and shows no intention to let go. As they enter the building, Cagalli realizes that she would not want to make a ruckus –it is already suspicious enough with Athrun dragging her – and decides to follow him along.
It is only when they are inside Athrun's own unit of the apartment suite that he lets go of Cagalli. Cagalli pulls back immediately, rubbing her sore wrists. She finally takes a proper look at Athrun – his ragged breath, his glowering face, his pursed lips; the only similarity of this man in front of him and her fiancé that she met up a month ago is the his shirt and tie.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" she hisses at him, throwing him a look that matches his glare.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" Athrun returns the question vehemently. He looks at Cagalli from top to toe; eyeing her sleeveless tank top and mini shorts with disdain – where is the distinguished lady of his fiancée?
Cagalli's eyes widen in anger to have her question thrown back at her. "Oh, just something you have no idea about – like, having fun," she spats.
"Having fun? Having fun?" asks Athrun incredulously. "Latching onto some strangers, getting groped – is that your way of having fun?"
"Yes, it is!" Cagalli shouts to his face. She pushes him at the chest with one finger. "That's what I hate the most about you! So uptight – like you can't enjoy anything. Have you even ever got laid?"
Athrun catches her hand at the wrist and grips it so hard that she winces. "Have I ever got laid? Why don't you find out yourself."
"Wha – " Cagalli is just about to question when Athrun pulls her forward and smashes his lips upon hers. She gasps, surprised by the sudden action. It seems like a wrong move, however, since her parted lips give Athrun more access and before she knows, he is already nibbling on her lower lips before his tongue attacks. Cagalli closes her eyes – she sure has her shares of kisses but most of them have not turned her legs into jelly and none of them have her craving for more like this one. If she has any intention to push Athrun away earlier, it is already long forgotten as she grips his shirt for support.
When Athrun pulls away, Cagalli nearly wants to whimper. Her face is more flushed than it is already is; both from heat and pleasure but Athrun looked unabashed, if not panting slightly. Without a word he grabs her wrist yet again and drags her into one of the rooms, most probably his own, before pushing her down on his king size bed. Cagalli comes to her sense, realizing where this is getting to. She tries to get up but Athrun is already hovering over her, having kicking off his shoes.
"Athrun-san…" she calls out, almost timidly. There is something in Athrun's eyes that is so intense that it scares her – it looks like Athrun would never be able to be stopped no matter what she does. "Athrun-san, what are you – "
She never gets to finish her words as Athrun kisses her sense away all over again. It is crazy – how he sucks and nips at her lower lips so slowly and torturously that Cagalli has to personally invite that skilful tongue of his again into her cavern. Athrun luckily obliges her and as the girl falls into the pleasure, his hand travels into her loose tank top. Cagalli's eyes are forced open at the cold touch. She squirms under him, breaking the lips contact. Athrun stares at the confused amber eyes of her for a moment before lowers his face down to her right ear.
"You know you won't stop me, Cagalli."
Perhaps Cagalli knows that there is nothing but truth in the cold-hearted statement that it only takes that for her to finally let her guard down. As she closes her eyes shut, she feels Athrun's lips on the nape of her neck. Such a chaste touch sends her shivering to the toe and her hands reach for Athrun's shirt just to have something to hold onto.
Just in case is she is to shatter.
When Cagalli opens her eyes, she instantly meets a pair of emerald that is coolly staring at her. It renders her red again, especially noticing how they are naked under the cover and how her head is actually resting on one of his arm while another drapes casually on her waist. The man she is facing is void of any expression, though – as if it is common for her to be there on his bed.
"Athrun-san," she calls quietly, unsure how to tone her voice.
His expression softens at the call of his name, almost amused.
"Why am I Athrun-san again?" he asks. He smiles lightly when the girl throws him a confused look. "I'm pretty sure you screamed Athrun earlier, and not just once."
If it is possible for Cagalli to go redder, she just did. She looks away, wanting to escape from Athrun's penetrating gaze; as if she has not exposed everything of her to him already. They enjoy the silence for a while, just listening to their own heartbeats, unable to distinguish one with another.
"Why did you do this?" Cagalli breaks the ice suddenly, her eyes still fixed on the space between them.
"You wanted to know if I ever got laid, didn't you?"
The blonde looks up to Athrun's eyes almost immediately, hurt shown on her amber eyes. "Is that all?"
Athrun stares at her, his expression have gone all away again.
"What was your impression of me then, Cagalli?" he asks, avoiding the question.
"Uptight, overly formal, suffocating." Cagalli answers with all honesty. "Someone I can never get along with."
"Then, what is your impression of me now?" Athrun asks again.
Sex god – Cagalli almost finds herself saying but she manages to stop herself. She searches her brain for words to describe what she thinks of Athrun right now but finds none. She shakes her head slowly.
"I don't know," she admits.
Athrun sighs softly. His hand moves from Cagalli's waist to her soft golden locks. "Am I still someone you can never get along with?"
Cagalli shakes her head immediately – she at least knows that. The Athrun in front of her is no longer the one who smiles at her like she is one of his business clients – she knows that smile too well, having brought up by a businessman – and the lack of formal shirt on him seems to erase the big gap of their ages; since Athrun looks at least four years younger than his age when he is not thinking business at all.
"Then," he says as he strokes Cagalli's hair softly. "Would you try to get know me now?"
Cagalli's amber eyes twinkle. "Only if you promise no more dragging."
"Given that there is no more getting hit on by random strangers – or anyone else in particular," Athrun replies with a smile.
"Deal," says Cagalli firmly.
Athrun gives Cagalli's hair a stroke again, keeping his smile intact. "Say, who am I again?"
"…Athrun-san?" Cagalli is unable to keep the tease out of her voice, earning her a scowl-cum-pout from the blue-haired man in front of him. Smiling, she sneaks her hand out to reach Athrun's fringe, touching it softly.
"Athrun."
So here goes the first chapter. When I first thought of the idea, I was thinking of it as multi-chaptered – there are more to come in the process of them to fall in love, being engaged in every sense of the word and finally getting married. But when I actually finish writing this, I suppose this can be a one-shot as well. So I'm letting you guys to decide it for me. Please tell me what do you think of the story – anything at all from the plot to my style of writing (and if the lime scene is lame *blushes*) – and if you would like me to continue the story. I'll be waiting so till then!
-Mayu